Today is the feast day of St. Lawrence (Lorenzo), patron saint of Alubarén, F.M., Honduras. Happy Feast Day!
The Church of San Lorenzo in the pueblo of Alubarén is the oldest of our parish’s 40 churches; it is more than 400-years-old!
In the photo above, we see a statue of St. Lorenzo ready to go into a procession to greet St. Sebastian, patron saint of Reitoca.
Though there are many St. Lawrences, the one we celebrate today was a deacon in Rome who worked with Pope St. Sixtus II. Four days after St. Sixtus II was martyred, Deacon Lawrence was also martyred around the year 258.
Lawrence was known for his care for the poor, widows, and orphans of Rome. Legend has it that was killed by being burned on a gridiron.
He is a patron saint of many places including Alubarén, and he is a patron saint of barbeques, brewers, butchers, comedians, cooks and chefs and restaurant owners, deacons, glaziers and stained-glass workers, laundry workers, libraries and librarians, miners, poor people, seminarians, students, tanners, wine makers and sellers, and grape growers. So, he has plenty to keep him busy in heaven!